Information from

“ Klamath Basin ”

State Water Resources Board Report

Salem , Oregon

June, 1971

The following information concerns historical and present day (1971) data and quotes concerning Upper Klamath Basin Water Quality:

1. Introduction: Page XIV, Item #21: “Pollution of ground and surface water is a problem in the basin and is due to a large extent to natural causes.”

2. Page 33: “Water quality in (the) Klamath Basin is generally acceptable for fish propagation, although temperature is a problem in many cases for salmon and trout. Klamath River , lower Williamson River , Lost River , and Sprague River frequently carry high concentrations of organic nutrients. Klamath Basin streams are generally noted for their fertility and ability to produce large fish.

3. Page 33: “Continual accumulation of organic nutrients in Upper Klamath Lake has several significant effects on fish, the most desirable of which is the rapid growth and large size of trout. Less desirable, however, is a loss of dissolved oxygen as water temperatures rise and organic constituents increase, contributing to heavy blooms of phytoplankton or algae.”

4. Water Quality, Page 66: “Iron occurs throughout the Sprague River Valley in concentrations higher then allowable maximum of 0.3 parts per million (ppm) for domestic and municipal use. The level of coliform organisms in the lower 5 miles of the Williamson River exceeds the permissible limit of 1,000 per 100 milliliter (ml) for public health . . . A rapid increase in the coliform count for the Williamson River near Chiloquin indicates one or more localized sources of coliform pollution. The high coliform concentration entering the lake is diluted to acceptable levels before passing from the lake to the Link River .”

5. Water Quality, Page 67: “Excerpts from the 1854 diary of Lt. Henry L. Abbott, leader of a railroad survey party, attest to the condition of the lake water being due to natural causes: “The water from the lake had a dark color, and a disagreeable taste occasioned apparently by decayed Tule.” And “The taste of the water was so disagreeable that several vain attempts were made to discover a spring in the vicinity.” (Of what is now named Cove Point near the south end of the lake.)

6. Page 68: “Manmade wastes, however, are secondary in detrimental effect to those introduced by natural agents.”

“Fish kill in the reach from Lake Ewauna to Keno in August 1968 was caused by slow almost stagnate water flows and zero dissolved oxygen.”

Back in 1968, Coliform levels averaged 49 at Link River – Fremont Bridge and increased to 20,285 at the Klamath River – Highway 97 Bridge about 5 ½ miles downstream – well above the safe limit of 1,000 per milliliter. (has this changed since 1968?)

High coliform counts reflects the concentration of discharges from sewage treatment plants and industries. The condition is aggravated by the extremely low velocities and warm temperatures experienced in this reach. (Page 70) Water temperatures as high as 77 degrees F have been recorded. (Higher water temps = lower dissolved oxygen)

7. Page 75: “ Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Lake are essentially natural evaporation basins in which natural occurring sodium salts have been accumulating throughout recent geologic time. Farming and irrigation leaches out these “salts” and causes high salinity concentrations further downstream into the Wildlife Refuges”

8. Page 76: (the) Klamath River between the Klamath Straits Drain and Keno – “High improvement in water quality caused by significant dilution by ground water intrusions.”

9. Page 76: The Klamath River between Keno and the California border – “Below Keno, water quality is markedly improved by turbulent reaeration, caused by steeper channel gradient and considerable ground water intrusion. Only high water temperatures are still apparent.”

10. Page 102: “ . . . surface inflows to the lake are rich in nutrients and organic matter. The majority of nutrients present in the lake inflows are from natural sources, although irrigation return flows contribute minimal amounts. The majority of organic matter enters the lake from marshlands via the Williamson River . These constituents have been present for many years and coupled with deposits of dead tule on the lake bed, provide an environment ideally suited to the proliferation of these algal blooms.”

11. Page 108: “Some erosion and sedimentation occurs, due to geologic causes and is the natural degradation of the earth’s crust. The largest areas subject to geologic erosion lie within the National Forest boundaries and resulting sedimentation generally does not reach major drainage systems . . . Many salts and nutrients, especially phosphorous, are added to surface water. These salts and nutrients are contained in the soils and are dissolved during heavy sediment loading.”

12. Pollution – Page 108: “Pollution from domestic, municipal, and industrial waste discharges are concentrated mainly in Lake Ewauna and Klamath River downstream to Keno. Domestic and municipal wastes from Klamath Falls and surrounding suburban areas and discharges from industrial plants have caused water quality degradation in the reach. However, in relation to the quality of water discharged from Upper Klamath Lake , the added pollutants are of secondary importance.

“Elimination of major source of pollution in the Klamath River is being accomplished by various lumber companies by relocation of their log storage operation from the river to a dry land decking and sorting system. These companies, in accomplishing this task, have also removed some sunken logs, bark, and other residue. Presently, log storage in the reach from Klamath Falls to Keno has been reduced by more than 50% and will be further reduced within the next two years.

“In the drainage to Upper Klamath Lake , the contribution of dissolved salts and nutrients, due to irrigation return flows, is minor compared to the natural contribution. Constituents from both sources add to the eutrophication process in Upper Klamath Lake .

“In the lower Lost River drainage, return flows of the Main and Tule Lake Division of the Klamath Project contribute heavily to the nutrient and alkalinity problems in Tule and Klamath Lakes and Klamath Strain Drain.

“There is also a substantial thermal pollution problem in this area, partly contributed by the irrigation return flows and by the many warm-water springs that make up the Lost River flow along its lower drainage. Due to the increasing use of the geothermal resource in Klamath Falls and the Lower Lost River drainage area, thermal pollution may become a more substantial water quality problem in the future.”

13. Summary and Conclusions – Page 217: “A large portion of the Klamath Basin ground-water resources are discharged in the lowland areas of the basin. Much of this water is derived from regional flow systems which contribute ground water of poor chemical quality. Much of Lower Klamath Lake is occupied by nonproductive alkali flats and marsh brines. Excessive amounts of sodium and related chemical constituents are brought to land surface by rising ground-water discharge.”

14. Water in the Klamath Basin – Page 221: “The Klamath Basin receives over 6 ½ million acre-feet per year from precipitation. Precipitation rates with the basin range from less than 15 inches per year on the valley floors to over 60 inches per year in the Cascade Range near Crater Lake .”

The following information concerns historical and present day (1971) data and quotes concerning Upper Klamath Basin Water Situation:

“Inventory Study”

“Because of the ‘Klamath River Basin Compact’ (between Oregon and California ); the Oregon Water Resource Board doesn’t have the authority to formulate an intergraded water resource program.” – page xi – Purpose and Introduction. (THEREFORE, IN 1971 THE KRB COMPACT WA STILL IN FORCE.)

269,000 irrigated acres in Oregon in 1971 – page xii.

#16 – There are consumptive water rights for 2,878 cfs within the basin – irrigation rights account for the greatest consumptive use with 2,754 cfs.

#19 – Of the total water consumption in the basin, irrigation use consumes about 98% - xiii.

#23 – To satisfy documented fish life needs in lower basin streams it would require approximately 250,000 acre-feet of annual outflow from the basin – xiv.

#30 – Small reservoirs on important tributaries could reduce local flooding and erosion, and provide late season water for irrigation, livestock and fish life – xiv.

#33 – There are 980,000 acres of mapped irrigable land within the basin – xv

(Page 2 & 3) - Total Basin acres in Oregon 3,633,1000 – 85 miles North/South, 70 miles East/West – California has 1,488,800 acres fir a total if 5,121,900 acres.

(Page 3) – Crater Lake has no visible inlet or outlet – precipitation and snow melt, seepage and evaporation only.

(Page 3) – Upper Klamath Lake is fed by surface water and large springs and seeps located in the lake bed.

(Page 4) – Sprague River ’s headwaters are on the westerly slopes of Coleman Rim & Gearhart Mt. Sycan River is a tributary of the Sprague, and it’s headwaters is on Winter Ridge.

(Page 4) – Wood River headwaters is Wood River Springs, 17 miles due north of Agency Lake and drains into Agency Lake .

(Page 4) – Four Mile Lake provides storage for release into “ Cascade Canal ” and exports water from the Klamath Basin to the Rogue Basin – Howard’s Prairie lake water also goes to the Rogue Basin .

(Page 4) – The basalt ‘dike’ is considered the start of the short Link River .

“ Link River discharges into Lake Ewauna , which during peak floods, overflowed into Lower Klamath Lake .”

“Historically, flood overflows from Lake Ewauna fed this large natural marsh known as Lower Klamath Lake . This area inundated extended from Klamath River into California and covered approximately 94,000 acres as indicated on an old 1905 map. It was in this old lake bed that some of the early private irrigation development occurred. The area in Oregon has now been almost entirely reclaimed for Ag purposes.”

(Page 5) – Klamath river estuary is at the town of Klamath , California – 208 miles from the John C. Boyle Dam.

(Page 5) – “Historically, Tule Lake was a large natural sump, which at times reached a water surface of about 90,000 acres . . . the lake would then slowly recede during the summer and fall months due to evaporation.” (NO historical outflow before the project!)

(Page 7) – “Drainage is poor in the flat-lying valleys, as evidenced by the meandering sources of three of the four major river systems.”

(Page 7) – Elevations: 5,000 ft at Sycan Marsh – 4,030 ft at the Tule Lake Sump = 970 feet difference.

Max peak to the east is 8,364 ft Gearhart Mountain and on the west is 9,495 ft Mt. McLaughlin, which is the highest peak in the basin.

Max relief goes from approximately 6,745 ft from Mt. McLaughlin to about 2,750 ft elevation where the Klamath River leaves the basin at the Or/Ca boundary, 25 miles SW of Klamath Falls.

(Page 7) – Climate – “Relatively dry summers with high temperatures and wet winters with moderate to low temperatures. Annual precipitation and native vegetation indicate the climate is semiarid.”

(Page 8 - 9) – History –

1820 – Hudson Bay trappers and Peter Skene Ogden

1840’s – J. C. Fremont - first visit

1846 – J. C. Fremont’s second visit

Levi Scott and the Applegate Brothers laid out the Applegate Trail

1850’s – Wallace Baldwin pastured 50 horses in the lower Klamath country

Middle 1850’s – Military survey party involved in the Pacific Rail Road

Survey – Lt.’s Williamson and Abbott, led by military

escort – Lt. Phil Sheridan. Railroad route from the

Sacramento Valley to the Columbia River

1866 – First permanent settler, Wendelin Nuss arrived shortly

after the first homesteader, Orson Stearns arrived and

he was followed by Steven Stukel

1867 – George Nurse, the storekeeper at Fort Klamath ,

established a store and ferry at the base of the Klamath

Falls near Linkville

1870’s – First water rights in Swan Lake Valley by Lucien

Applegate first irrigation of lands along Lost River by

Silas Kilgore

1870’s – Modoc Indian War

1877 – Linkville Ditch Company was in operation, delivering

water for irrigation to town lots

Prior to 1877, water rights were established for irrigation

along Sprague River

The Moore Ditch ran down Link River to power the

sawmill

1880’s – Van Brimmer Ditch constructed and irrigation started in

the Wood River Valley

1886 – 4,000 acres under irrigation near Merrill by the Van

Brimmer Ditch Company and it was then extended via

the Adams Canal to irrigate lands farther east

1892 – Moore Ditch was expanded

1902 – Bureau of Reclamation Act

1903 – A reconnaissance survey was conducted by Mr. Whistler

and Mr. Green, engineers from the US Reclamation

Service

1903 – Modoc Point Irrigation System was begun

1905 – Klamath Water Users Association was formed and the

Klamath Project received approval from the Secretary of

the Interior

1905 – “The State of Oregon and Reclamation authorized the US government to 1) lower the water level of Upper Klamath

Lake . 2) lower and drain Lower Klamath Lake and Tule

Lake , 3) use beds of said lakes for storage, and 4) cede

to the US any lands uncovered by lowering or draining or

said lakes.”

1905 – First contract was awarded for construction of the “A”

Canal

1907 – Southern Pacific Railroad built embankment between the

Klamath River and Lower Klamath Lake . US Reclamation

installed structures in this embankment at the Klamath

Straits so the Klamath River overflow into Lower Klamath

Lake could be controlled

1908 – President Theodore Roosevelt signed EO #924

establishing the Klamath Lake Reservation upon lands in

the Lower Klamath Lake area (National Wildlife Refuge –

5 within the Basin, 4 of which are superimposed upon

lands under primary jurisdiction of the Bureau of

Reclamation) – 1964 Public Law 88-567 stabilizing

ownership, administration, and management of the 4

refuges

(Page 11) – Population: 1960 - 54,000, 88% in Oregon with the remainder 6,300 in Modoc and Siskiyou Counties . 1960 population of Klamath Falls – 17,000 (most rapid growth happened between 1910 – 1930 construction of the Klamath Project [Page 13]). By 2020 population could rise to nearly 80,000 in Klamath County alone.

(Page 14 – 16) Land Use in Ownership – Oregon Only: The Oregon portion of the basin contains approximately 3,633,000 acres of which the largest landowner is the US government with 1, 830,500 acres or almost 50%. Private, muni, county, and state amounts to 1,661,100 or 46%. 4% is made up of Indian Trust Lands. (1971)

273,600 acres – Federally owned – public domain by the BLM

1,417,600 acres – Federally owned – by the US Forest Service

Small acres – Federally owned – by BOR and the Department of Defense

440,000 acres – Privately owned – by large timber companies

141,500 acres – BIA owned – in Indian Trust Lands managed by the US Bank of Portland

(Page 15) – Largest portion of land use – approximately 71% of the Oregon portion of the Basin is made up of forest land, next comes range and pasture lands with 16%, and total croplands in Oregon portion only make up 8% of total land, with 5% under other uses.

(Page 16) – Economy – Natural resources: Most important contributors to the basin economy is Ag and Timber (both renewable) [Timber has done way down since 1971].

In 1968, there were 58 firms classified as manufacturing firms with 25 dealing with wood products manufacturing. Largest employer is lumber and wood products at 18% or 3,400 in 1968. Ag was at 9% or 1,700 employees. 17% in wholesale and retail, 27% in service industries, and 17% in government. 19,000 total people employed in 1968. Unemployment was at 4.7% in 1968.

(Page 19) – Timber Industry: First sawmill was built in 1863 in Fort Klamath . Today (1968 – 1971) 350 million board feet is processed annually.

Landowner	Acres	%

USFS	1,125,300	29%

BLM	74,100	8%

NPS	0	0%

Indian Trust	131,900	8%

Private Forest Industry	421,800	30%

State Owned	34,000	3%

Other	363,800	22%

In 1971 there were 10 lumber mills operating in the Klamath Basin producing 380 million board feet of lumber. 1941 was the peak production year of 808.6 million board feet. Cut timber – 398.5 mbf – some exported out of the basin.

(Page 21) – AG: Klamath County had approximately 270,000 acres privately owned land in Ag in 1964, 86% was irrigated. In 1971, 70% was irrigated. Principal crops were potatoes, grains, peas, grass and ligumne seed, alfalfa, grass hay, and pasture.

(Page 21) – In 1945 there were 1,421 farms in Klamath County , average in excess of 980 acres. In 1959, farms were down to 1,089 but averaged 1,390 acres. Most recent numbers are 1,072 farms in excess of 1,450 acres – included are 98 farms with less then 10 acres and 101 in excess of 2,000 acres.

(Page 21) – In 1954, 65 % were owner operated, in 1964, 61% were owner operated, Tenant farmers were only 8% (Page 22).

(Page 22) – In 1964, 27% total cropland was devoted to alfalfa, then barley and oats at 34.2%, and potatoes were only 5.5%.

(Page 25) – Production yields have increased per acre from 1954 – 1964. Wheat and oats up 90 and 100% respectively. Potato yields up 42%.

Potatoes are the most important crop in terms of total value of sales (fresh market consumption – 1965). $4,818,000 for spuds, $2,308,000 for all hay.

Cow-calf is predominant type of livestock in 1968. Total income from livestock was $16,794,000. (Page 26) Approximately 70,000 head of cattle were moved from California to the Basin for summer pasture in 1969. Hogs and chickens have been phased out. Sheep have decreased as well.

(Page 27) – In 1930 census, there were 36,000 head of cattle in Klamath County . In 1964, there were 40,217 head. In 1930, there were some 140,000 head of sheep, and in 1964 there were only 40,400 head.

Dairy cows – 1940: 8,000 head 1964: 2,100 head.

(Page 27) – Costs of the Klamath Project since 1905: $20,000,000 which 87% has been repaid to date (1971) with about $2,700,000 being contracted for repayment with all payments current.

(Page 31) – Waterfowl: 80% of the Pacific flyway waterfowl pass through the Klamath Basin . 40% in Oregon , 60% in California .

(Page 33) – Game Fish: Kokanee and Coho have been introduced into Lake of the Woods , 4 Mile Lake , and other high mountain lakes. Warm water game fish native to the Basin: Black crappie, largemouth bass, yellow perch, mullet (Lost River Sucker).

(Page 36) – The Basin refuges (in 1971) encompass an area of approximately 190 square miles.

(Page 38) – Water Supply:

“Flow characteristics of the Klamath Basin streams are typical of semiarid regions. Normally these streams would exhibit extreme differences in both seasonal and annual yield; however, because of the numerous springs contributing to relatively “large” base flows and manipulation by storage of other basin streams relatively small diversity occurs.”

Records from October 1929 – Sept 1968 (40 years) include “dry cycle” of the 1930 decade and the “wet cycle” of the 1950’s.

(Page 39) – “Mean annual stream flow at the station “ Klamath River at Keno” for the base period is 1,205,700 acre-ft per year. For the entire period of record (1929 – 1968, 48 years) the average annual flow is also 1,205,700 acre-ft.”

(Page 39) – “The total annual snow fall at (the) Klamath Falls weather station is approximately 41 inches and at Crater Lake National Park Service headquarters, approximately 521 inches.” “Mid-winter rains are frequent in lower elevations, maximum precipitation occurs in December and January.

(Page 50) – Evaporation:

“Both temperature and wind conditions have a significant effect on evaporation rates from exposed water surfaces as well as total evaporation from vegetated areas. Evaporation loses from water surfaces in the basin vary from over 4 feet per year to as little as 1 ½ feet per year, being greatest in the low-lying areas of the basin. Upper Klamath Lake has an evaporation rate of between 3 ½ to 4 feet per year on average; whereas Clear Lake at a higher elevation, has a recorded evaporate rate of between 2 ½ and 3 ½ feet per year on average.”

“Evaporation data on vegetated areas in the basin have been estimated from 1 ½ feet per year for large stands of pine to less then 1 foot per year for noncommercial vegetation; such as sagebrush and low lying prairie lands. Values estimated for crops vary from 2.7 feet per year to 1.7 feet per year for alfalfa and 1.5 feet per year to 1.7 feet per year for grain.”

(Page 53) – Annual Runoff into Upper Klamath Lake :

Williamson River – 721,500 acre feet of water

Sprague River – contributes 414,300 acre feet of water to the Williamson

Sycan River only contributes on 30% of its total water to the Williamson because the Sycan Marsh takes 70%

Wood River (Page 55) at Fort Klamath – contributes 171,800 acre feet

(Page 58) Upper Klamath Lake – the natural average of inflow to UKL totals 1,420,400 acre feet.

The Williamson, Wood, and Sprague Rivers total approximately 923,000. The difference is made up of additional surface inflows from the surrounding watershed area (approximately 300 sq miles) and flows from springs and seeps.

(Page 60) – Annual runoff from the Klamath River drainage area above the California border is 249,000 acre feet (water added to the Klamath River between the project lands and the California border).

(Page 62) – Water Supply:

“About 266,000 acre feet per year is estimated to have been the average diversion from Upper Klamath Lake and the Klamath River during 1951 – 1967 period. This represents about 20% of the total inflow to Upper Klamath Lake over a base period and amounts to about 73% of the total Project supply. The great majority, 66% of the total is delivered via the “A” Canal , with the remaining 7% being delivered from the Klamath River via the Lost River Diversion Canal . . . Runoff from the Lost River system yields the remaining 102,000 acre feet per year.”

(Page 70) – Lost River is the principal water source for more then 200,000 acres and is essentially an irrigation channel.

(Page 75) – The Straits Drain:

“Much of this area receives water reportedly (1966) reused at least 2 ½ times on fertilized cropland during its long course through the Klamath Project.”

(Page 83) – “Water Rights and Depletions”:

“Water rights data for the Klamath Basin are summarized from State Engineer’s records and contain water rights by stream diversion point, quantity, priority date, and use. The data are restricted to surface water rights and exclude those for the Klamath Project. In total, surface water rights would permit annual maximum legal depletion of 3,345,548 acre feet per year from the surface waters of the basin.”

(Page 84) – Williamson and Sprague Rivers flow through the now dissolved Klamath Indian Reservation – Adjudication proceedings forth coming in both streams will change.

(Page 95) – Irrigation (under Water Use and Control):

“The great majority of water consumed in the basin is for irrigation. On the 380,000 acres irrigated about 908,000 acre feet are required annually. Consumption is estimated to be about 496,000 acre feet.” . . . “About 269,000 acres are surfaced irrigated in the basin with almost 111,000 being classed as sub-irrigated. The surface irrigated lands require 764,000 acre feet annually, with consumption estimated to amount to almost 353,000 acre feet per year.”

Sub-irrigated lands consume nearly 144,000 acre feet per year. (Sub-irrigated are considered natural wetlands, such as the basins extensive marshlands.)

(Page 97) – “Of the 380,000 acres presently (1971) irrigated, about 63% is utilized for pasture. Alfalfa is produced on 19%, with hay and grain accounting for 15%. Potatoes were grown on only 2% of the basins irrigated land.”

(Page 97) – “Estimated Mean Seasonal Unit Values of Consumptive Use vary between crops. The most extreme example is alfalfa, which varies from as low as 1.7 acre feet in the Williamson drainage to as high as 2.7 acre feet in the Lost River drainage. Effective precipitation occurring during the growing season supplies some of the needed water for plant growth.

(Page 99) – Back in 1971, Basin water efficiency was only 89%, since then it has risen to 98% efficiency. The consumption value includes evaporation and seepage losses in the distribution system and from Tule and Lower Klamath Lakes .

(Page 102) – Hydroelectric Power:

“ . . . the natural configuration of the lake, which averages only 8 to 10 feet in depth. A small area between Eagle Ridge and Bare Island is about 40 to 50 feet deep.” . . . “ Lake levels are fluctuated within contract limits in response to the needs of irrigation on the Klamath Project lands, requirements for power generation, and minimum fish flows at downstream power generation plants. Maintenance of maximum water surface elevations in the lake would require reduction of releases for those purposes and also would result in an increase in evaporation losses from the larger water surface area.”

(Page 104) – “Streams in which zero flows has been recorded or observed are Sycan River, the Williamson River above Spring Creek, and the upper reaches of the Sprague River. Other streams in the basin have experienced instantaneous minimum flows lower than those recommended.

(Page 104) – The Klamath Basin contains large areas of marshland. These areas, plus the lower elevation lakes, provide excellent habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. The estimated seasonal water consumption in the basin amounts to approximately 130,000 acre feet from about 36,000 acres of marsh. The marshes provide critical habitat for waterfowl using the Pacific Flyway.

Lower Klamath Lake 22,800 acres

Clear Lake 33,500 acres

Tule Lake 37,000 acres

Upper Klamath Lake 12,700 acres

Klamath Forest 15,200 acres

Total 121,200 acres (in 1971)

(Page 105) – “Upper Klamath Lake loses approximately 225,000 acre feet of water to evaporation when it’s surface area is 63,000 acres. (3.57 feet per acre). Hence, the demand for large surface water acres for recreational and wildlife use results in direct consumption of water.”

(Page 108) – Drainage:

“Approximately 10 percent of the land area in the basin has major drainage problems due mainly to high ground water tables. In some areas, irrigation has resulted in raising the ground water table to within the root zone of normally well drained soils. Marshlands have been drained by diking and reclaimed for agricultural use, with significant concentrations around Upper Klamath Lake and within the old lakebed of the lower Klamath Lake . Pasture land has been improved to a limited extent in the Sprague and Sycan valley.”